Frank Harper Luton received his bachelor's degree in 1925 from George Peabody College for Teachers and his medical degree from Vanderbilt University Medical School in 1927. He served internships and residencies at Queens Square Hospital in London and the Judge Baker Foundation in Boston. Luton was then an instructor in psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine from 1930 to 1931, working with Dr. Adolph Meyer, father of the 'mental hygeine' movement.

Dr. Luton later became Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, rising to full professor by 1942. In that year he was appointed neurologist and psychitrist-in-chief at Vanderbilt Hospital, a position he held until 1956. Luton became professor emeritus at Vanderbilt in 1964.

The first formally trained psychitrist to practice in the state of Tennessee, Luton also served in various governmental capacities, including State Commissioner of Mental Health under Governor Buford Ellington. In 1938, he undertook the state's first survey of mental health needs at the request of Governor Browning. In 1944, he served as consulting psychiatrist at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Insitute; he was named clinical director of that institute in 1960.

Additionally, Luton was installed as president of the American College of Psychiatrists in 1969. He also served as president of both the Central Neuropsychiatric Association and the Southern Psychiatric Association and as vice-repsient of the American Psychitric Association.